Drying plant.



A.O.DUPU Y.

DRYING PLANT.

I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1909. 1,067,41 1 Patented July 15, 1913.

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A. 0.'DUPUY.

DRYING PLANT. v

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. 1909.

Patented July 15, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

ARTHUR O. DUPUY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE C. O. BARTLETT &.SNOW COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DRYING PLANT.

Application filed January 21, 1909.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR O. DUPUY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and use ful Improvement in Drying Plants, of which thefollowing is a specification, the principle of the invention beingherein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthat principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The class of drying apparatus to which the present invention belongs isthat utilized in drying brick or other like clay products, wherein aseries of racks is provided on which the bricks are placed pending thedrying operation. These racks are generally arranged one above the otheralong the side or sides of the drying chamber, the brick be ing placedupon pallets of metal adapted to be supported on such racks. In thelatter a suitable heating medium, usually steam, either live or exhaust,is circulated to supply the required heat.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a drying plantof this general character, that will be simple in construction, and,more important, one that will require a minimum amount of steam, or inother words, fuel, to operate the same, wnile at the same time, anequable heating effect is secured throughout the entire series of racks.

A further object, is to so construct the drier that the temperature ofthe racks, while still maintained thus uniform, may be graduallyincreased from a relatively low to a higher temperature.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings :Figure 1 is a broken end view of a buildingequipped with my improved drying apparatus; Fig. 2 is a similar brokenside elevation of such build ing; Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of theseries of drying racks; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of such aseries; and Fig. 5 is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1913. Serial No. 473,412.

perspective view of a structural detail of one of the racks.

Referring first of all to the general views of the plant illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, the same will be seen to comprise one or more elongatedchambers A, along the side walls of which the driers B proper, aredisposed. These chambers are provided with suitable doors a for entranceand exit, and with ventilators a on the roof; while longitudinally ofeach extends a conveyer A upon which the product may be carried to thedriers or away therefrom as the case may be.- Driers 13 comprise, as hasbeen indicated, a series of racks arranged one above the other. Eachrack Z) comprises in turn a plurality of pipes Z), in the presentinstance five, that are supported upon transverse bars 6 secured tovertical posts 6 along the respective walls of the drying chamber. It ismore particularly with the steam supply connec tions of the pipes thusseen to constitute the several racks of the drier, and with theinterconnection of such pipes, that interest at present lies.

Referring then to Figs. 3 and 4:, the pipes b of each rack will be seento be divided into two setsof three and two each, so arranged as'toalternate the one with the other. The ends of each set are connected bytransversely disposed pipes or manifolds 6*, and such transversemanifold of each set is in turn connected with a vertically disposedmanifold 72 of which there will thus be seen to be two at each end ofthe series of racks, located at opposite corners thereof. Steam forheating the racks is supplied to one manifold 5 only, (the one in thelower right hand corner of Fig. 3) or in other words, such steam isadmitted directly to but one of such sets of pipes whereof each rack isseen to consist. Steam will be admitted to the other set only afterpassing through such first set, an expansible and contractibleconnection 6 being provided for this purpose at the farther end of theracks between the corresponding manifolds. This connection, however, iscontrolled by a suitable valve 6 so that the second set of pipes neednot be supplied with steam, unless desired. A suitable drain pipe 5 isattached to the connection 5 In order that the pipes 72 may provide anunobstructed and level support for the pallets, upon which the materialto be dried is placed, I support such pipes in a plane above the severaltransverse pipes or manifolds 7) with which they are terminallyconnected. For convenience in assembling the pipes, as well as to permitsuch desired disposition thereof, I employ a specially designed fittingto effect such connection between their ends and such manifold. One formof such fitting is illustrated in Fig. 5, and will be seen to comprisetwo separable members into one of which 6 is threaded the sections ofthe transverse manifold while the end of the rack pipe is threaded intothe other These members are then clamped together with a suitableintervening layer of packing, by means of bolts 6 or the like, so that agood steam-tight joint is secured. At the same time the transverse pipeshave sufficient spring to provide for the expansion and contraction ofthe longitudinal. rack pipes, and thus do away with the necessity for alarge number of expansion joints, such as have been found necessary inprevailing types of driers.

As result of the construction of my drier, and particularly the mannerin which I interconnect the sets into which the pipes of each rack aredivided, it will be seen that I secure a circulation of the heatingmedium through such sets in opposite directions, so that the end of theradiator is located adjacent to its beginning. The heating effect thatis secured from the condensation of the steam in its component pipes isthus equalized throughout the length of the rack, and the diflicultyheretofore encountered of having the material dry too rapidly at the endto which the steam is first admitted, and too slowly at the oppositeend, is hence entirely done away with. At the same time, by simplyclosing the by-pass valve Z2 controlling the connection between the two,sets of pipes, I am enabled to cut ofi the steam entirely from the oneset, reducing the radiating surface by two-fifths. This arrangement isparticularly desirable at the beginning of the drying operation in caseof tender clay, the bypass being kept closed for a few hours, until theclay becomes firm enough to stand the higher temperature secured whenthe full amount of pipe is in circuit.

It will also be noted that by dividing the pipes entering into each rackinto two sets, the pipes of one set alternating with those of the otherset, a substantially uniform distribution of heat is securedtransversely of said rack irrespective of whether the steam is suppliedat one end only, or is allowed to traverse the whole series of pipes byopening the bypass valve 6 Furthermore, significance is to, be attachedto, the use of a header or manifold at the farther end of the first setof pipes wherein the temperature of the heating medium may be equalizedbefore being admitted to, the return line of pipes.

It will be evident that the steam discharged from the top rack will beat a higher temperature than that discharged by the bottom rack underordinary circumstances, but by the arrangement in question thisdifference in temperature is equalized, and a much more uniform heatingeffect thus secured, all of which is highly desirable in dealing with aproduct of the kind in hand.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of.

the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism hereindisclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claimsor the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a drier, a rack comprising a plurality of pipes disposedin two sets, the pipes of one set alternating with those of the other,connections for supplying the heating medium to one set of pipes at oneend of said rack, and independently controllable connections forsupplying such medium, after passing through such first set of pipes, tothe other set at the other end of said rack.

2. In a drier, a rack comprising a plurality of pipes divided into twosets, separate manifolds at the ends of each such set, steam supplyconnections to one manifold of one set of pipes, and a valve-controlledconnection between the other manifold of such set and the correspondingmanifold of the other set of pipes, whereby the steam, after passingthrough the first set, may be passed through the second set in theopposite direction when desired, the pipes of one set alternating withthose of the other, whereby a substantially uniform distribution of heattransversely of said rack is secured whether steam is passed throughsaid second set or not.

In a drier, a rack comprising a plurality of pipes divided into twosets, separate manifolds at the ends of each such set, steam supplyconnections to one manifold of one set of pipes, an expansible and contractible connection between the other manifold of such set and thecorresponding manifold of the other set of pipes, and a valvecontrolling such connection, whereby the steam after passing through thefirst set, may be passed through the second set in the oppositedirection when desired, the pipes of one set alternating with those ofthe other, whereby a substantially uniform distribution of heattransversely of said rack is secured whether steam is passed throughsaid. second set or not.

at. In a drier, a series of racks arranged one above the other and eachcomprising a plurality of pipes, the pipes of each rack being dividedinto two corresponding sets and the pipes of each set being so disposedas to effect a substantially uniform distribution of heat transverselyof the rack independently of the other set, separate manifolds at theends of each series of such sets of pipes, steam supply connections toone manifold of one such series, and a valvecontrolled connectionbetween the other manifold of such series and the correspond ingmanifold of the other series of sets of pipes, whereby the steam, afterpassing through such first series, may be passed through the secondseries in the opposite direction.

5. In a drier, a series of racks arranged one above the other and eachcomprising a plurality of pipes, the pipes of each rack being dividedinto two corresponding sets, separate manifolds at the ends of eachseries of such sets of pipes, steam supply connections to one manifoldof one such series, and a valve-controlled connection between the othermanifold of such series and the corresponding manifold of the otherseries of sets of pipes, whereby the steam, after passing through suchfirst series, may be passed through the second series in the oppositedirection, the pipes of one set alternating with those of the other set,whereby a substantially uniform distribution of heat transbeing dividedinto two corresponding sets, a

separate manifolds at the ends of each series of such sets of pipes,steam supply connections to one manifold of one such series, anexpansible and contractible connection between the other manifold ofsuch series and the corresponding manifold of the other series of setsof pipes, and a valve controlling such connection, whereby the steam,after passing through such first series, may be passed through thesecond series in the opposite direction when desired, the pipes of oneset alternating with those of the other, whereby a substantially uniformdistribution of heat transversely of said rack is secured whether steamis passed through said second set or not.

Signed by me this 2nd day of January,

ARTHUR O. DUPUY. Attested by MARY GLADWELL, J NO. F. OBERLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe ('lommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

